After the success of the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5168G with blue dial released in 2017 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Aquanaut —full history of this model here—, now comes another Aquanaut in 18K white gold but this time with a khaki green dial and strap under ref. 5168-010. This new reference 5168G fitted with a 42.2 mm case —2.2 mm bigger than reference 5167 and still powered by the same automatic calibre 324 S C powering the Aquanaut ref. 5167 we reviewed here. The watch is simply amazing in person and one that we absolutely loved.
Baselworld 2019: Rolex Novelties. Live Pictures & Prices.
As soon as the doors officially opened for the press at 12pm Basel Time, we headed straight to Rolex to see the novelties for Baselworld 2019. A weak year compared to the incredible lineup presented last year. With novelties across different collections, the main focus centered around the professional models as it is the norm. The new professional models include a White Gold Yach-Master 42 mm ref. 226659 with black dial, black ceramic bezel and Oysterflex strap, a Rolesor —two-tone with yellow gold— Sea-Dweller ref. 126603 equipped with calibre 3235, a new stainless steel GMT Master II ‘Batman’ ref. 126710BLNR now on jubilee bracelet and powered by calibre 3285—oyster bracelet model now officially discontinued…
Baselworld 2019: Breitling Unveils New Superocean Collection. Five Different Sizes for Every Wrist.
With its new Superocean Collection, Breitling has updated and upgraded one of its best-loved and most successful watch families. Breitling Superocean watches have been highly regarded for their diving prowess for more than 60 years. While the members of the new collection reflect the brand’s deep-water DNA, they are certain to appeal to men and women with active lifestyles. With their clean, sporty design and impeccable performance, these new Superoceans will feel at home on any wrist and in any environment. Breitling CEO Georges Kern points out that the watches reflect more than just the brand’s diver’s watch legacy: “Our Surfers Squad and our partnerships with Outerknown and Ocean Conservancy speak volumes about our affection for the seas.
Baselworld 2019: Jacob & Co. Unveils Long-Term Partnership with Bugatti
Jacob & Co. is pleased to announce a long-term partnership with Bugatti, the world’s most celebrated high performance sports car manufacturer, to collaborate on a series of exclusive co-branded products. This partnership brings together two companies that share a passion for cutting-edge design, pushing the limits of what seems mechanically possible. Stephan Winkelmann and Jacob Arabo, the Presidents of Bugatti and Jacob & Co., had just made this partnership official at Baselworld 2019.
Baselworld 2019: Breitling Navitimer ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition. A First for the Brand and a Tribute to a Legend.
For Baselworld 2019, Breitling has just announced the re-edition of the legendary Breitling Navitimer ref. 806 from 1959. In 1952, Breitling developed the Navitimer, a revolutionary wristwatch chronograph that instantly became a mainstay of every cockpit. It was worn by pilots for some of aviation’s most impressive developments, thanks to an innovative slide rule that enabled them to make all critical flight calculations. The new Navitimer ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition, celebrates one of the most iconic early designs of the Navitimer, released exactly 60 years ago. A first for the brand, the re-edition of the ref. 806 marks the subsequent launches also planned for the future.
News: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chrono ref. 26338PT 'Unique Piece' Sells for USD 220,000 at the One Night for One Drop Foundation Gala
Despite its estimated value of USD 112,000, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chrono ‘Unique Piece’ ref. 26338PT.OO.1220PT.01 sold for almost double its price hammering USD 220,000 at the 7th annual One Night for One Drop event imagined by Cirque du Soleil. Sold along five other lots that included a McLaren 570S Spider by MSO —one of six—, a private jet round-trip to a Turks and Caicos Island Villa on Parrot Cay, a Serengeti Safari-Living Experience in Tanzania, a 7-night getaway at the Château Saint Tropez for 12 Guests, and a luxury 7-night Journey aboard the Residential Yacht, The World; this very special unique piece Royal Oak helped in raising funds and awareness to benefit critical water issues worldwide.
Presenting: The C. Purnell Spherion Tourbillon. The World's Fastest Triple-Axis Tourbillon.
Cecil Purnell is a name that only a few hundred watch collectors know very well and a name that only a handful of people in the watch industry understand what it stands for and the type of product they put out there. Luckily, we are within that select group, and that’s why we are presenting you the just-released C. Purnell Spherion watch with our usual live pictures and captivating macro photography. Much like other independent horologists that prefer to remain ultra-exclusive, C. Purnell flies under the radar with little to no advertising, no mass communications, limited distribution, and their unique business model. However, regardless of the lack of media exposure their watches are incredible and a real treat for the eyes.
The Watch Collectors: @RJKama. The Doctor that Likes to Be Called SUPERDOC.
We met @RJKama at an Omega watch collector’s hospitality trip, and after instantly clicking with him, we became close friends. We still remember back then when we would pressure him non-stop about opening an Instagram account, and he wouldn’t do it. Finally, after several attempts on our end, he surprised the social media world with his passion for watches and incredible photography. @RJKama is a doctor that likes to be called SUPERDOC, and that sees health as a sensation of well being instead of an absence of disease. After launching his IG account many years ago, he rapidly became a most follow account for those looking for incredible photography of Omega timepieces with a very particular look and feel. Without a doubt, this is one of the most interesting interviews we’ve published on Watch Collectors here at WCL.
Now, you’ll hear straight from him all that he wants to share about this fantastic hobby that brought us together in the first place.
Experience: Hermès Leather Treasure. Perfectly Designed for those Exploring the World.
When you closely examine the orange hand on the Rolex Explorer II ref. 216570 —which we reviewed here—, you'll notice that its hue, is as close as it gets to the color of those fascinating orange boxes we love from Hermès. The Hermès Leather Treasure is a clever solution for those exploring the world and wanting to take a small amount of their favorite fragrances with them.
Presenting: MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT. The First MB&F Ladies Timepiece Ever.
The unexpected and a very surprising move by MB&F when they shared with us what is their first ladies timepiece ever. The creative process behind the just released MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT started four years ago, when Maximilian Büsser began thinking about making something inspired by the feminine influences in his life. “I created MB&F to do what I believe in, making three-dimensional sculptural kinetic art pieces that give the time. But at some point there came a desire to create something for the women in my family. I’ve been surrounded by their influence all my life, so I gave myself the challenge to do something for them” says Büsser. “The last thing I wanted to do, was to take a masculine timepiece, resize it, put a different color on it and call it a ladies’ watch.”
Eye Candy: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance 'Rainbow'. There's a Pot of Gold at the End of Every Rainbow.
With a unique look and following the steps of other watch manufactures like Rolex, comes the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked ‘Rainbow’ reference 15468BC.YG.1259BC.01. This new model cased in a 37 mm frosted 18K white gold case, sports a bezel featuring 32 baguette-cut ‘rainbow-colored’ sapphires totaling 2.24 carats. The sapphires have been all individually cut and set in a breathtaking way. The openworked rhodium-toned dial exposes the golden double balance wheel mechanism at 8 o’clock, which happens to be visible on both sides of the watch.
News: Breitling Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition. Celebrating 17 years of Partnership and 100 Years of Luxury Motoring.
Breitling and Britain’s Bentley Motors enjoy the longest-ever partnership between a watch brand and an automobile manufacturer. In fact, it dates back to 2002, when Bentley, the world’s most admired luxury car brand, launched the very first Continental GT. For this particular car, Bentley commissioned Breitling to create an onboard clock that would reflect the unparalleled luxury, peerless quality, and extraordinary performance of the new grand tourer, which was debuted in 2003. To celebrate their partnership and 100 years of luxury motoring, Breitling just announced the new Breitling Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition ref. RB01181A1Q1X1 produced in 18K red gold or stainless steel.
Insider: HYT H1.0 Black Fluid. One of the Best Looking HYT Watches Out There.
A couple of weeks ago we brought you our hands-on review of the new HYT H1.0 collection, and we told you how much we fell in love with it. During Watches & Wonders Miami 2019, the HYT H.10 lineup got even better after the brand added a fourth model with black fluid giving the watch a fascinating color combination. Like we mentioned it before, the new HYT H1.0 is the natural evolution and progression of the minimalist design of the H0 Origin released two years ago at Baselworld 2017. The new HYT H1.0 Black Fluid rises above with an even more futuristic approach as the capillary tube is filled with black fluid and the glass capillary features superluminova C7 in vintage mint green color underneath.
From the Editor: Almost a Year After its Release, the new Rolex GMT Master II 'Pepsi' is Still Selling Way Above Retail. Will this Bubble Finally Burst after Baselworld 2019?
It’s been almost a year since the release of the Rolex GMT Master II ‘Pepsi’ ref. 126710BLRO in stainless steel and we can’t wait any longer to see what Rolex will be unveiling at the end of the month during Baselworld 2019 from where we will be reporting live with all the novelties. Even though we are excited about all the Rolex novelties coming out this year, the most we are intrigued about is not necessarily that. While it is very likely that Rolex will release a new Milgauss or maybe a new GMT Master II ‘Coke’ and perhaps downsize the Explorer II to 40mm, what we can’t stop thinking about is how much longer the price bubble will hold before it bursts.
Insider: Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar. A Feat of Horology that Blends Classic and Modern Watch Design Cues.
A big highlight of the SIHH 2019 and a true feat of horology is the new Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar. Inspired by the seasonal system from the Japanese Edo Period which divided day and night into six segments —of which the length varied from day to night and from one season to another—, the clocks from this period were equipped with a single or double foliot balance enabling automatic changes in their operating speed. And just like those clocks, the Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar beats at a high frequency when worn and on demand, it can be slowed down by pressing a pusher in order to guarantee an extended outstanding power reserve of at least 65 days when the watch is not been worn.
News: A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase '25th Anniversary'. The Second Limited Edition from the Anniversary Collection.
Today, A. Lange & Söhne announced the second model of the ten watches they will be releasing this year for the anniversary collection. This new 25-piece A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase limited edition features a lunar disc engraved by hand for the first time. Commemorating the launch of the Lange 1 in October 1994, the Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase will be released as a jubilee edition in white gold with a limitation of 25 watches. It features a silver colored dial in solid silver with printed deep blue numerals and a white-gold lunar disc with hand engraved stars.
The Watch Collectors: @Orangedial17. Our Very Own IG Contributor in Singapore and One of Asia's Finest Watch Guys.
Our very own special Instagram contributor located in Singapore and a well-rounded watch collector, @orangedial17 is very well known for his stellar photography as one of Asia’s finest collectors. Not only @orangedial17 is a good friend of ours but someone that we also admire from a watch collecting standpoint. A longtime contributor to The Rolex Forums, The Purists and Timezone, he is a watch collector that is easily recognized because he is either wearing his very unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chrono in 18K white gold with salmon dial or his 36 mm Royal Oak in Tantalum.
Experience: Sipsmith London Dry Gin. As Refreshing as the Look on the Vacheron Constantin FiftySix Collection.
A few months ago while we attended the release of the Vacheron Constantin FiftySix Tourbillon, we visited the Sipsmith distillery in London. Sipsmith is the first copper pot distillery in London in nearly two hundred years. A classic and refreshing London Dry Gin that is bold, complex and very aromatic, this well balanced gin is perfectly suited for a Negroni or a classic Gin and Tonic. As refreshing as the look on the recently launched Vacheron Constantin FiftySix collection, Sipsmith is produced using a complex mix of botanicals that include the fundamental juniper berries —without them you can’t make Gin—, Bulgarian coriander seed, Belgian angelica root, Chinese cassia bark —from the same family as cinnamon—, Italian orris root, Spanish ground almond, Madagascan cinnamon bark, Spanish liquorice root, Seville orange peel and lemon peel.
Experience: Smythson Greenwich Holdall Bag. The Attention Grabber While Attending the SIHH in Geneva.
After receiving dozens of compliments about this bag during our time attending the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève last month, we decided to do a feature on it and tell you everything about it. At the end of the day, we know you come to WCL for the extensive watch content but also because of the good life and the occasional Paella recipe on our Instagram stories —no pun intended. As we travel the world in search for new luxury items to fall in love with, bags are one of our biggest weaknesses here at WCL and Smythson of Bond Street along with Faure Le Page are among the top of our list due to their exclusivity and understated look, very much like wearing a stainless steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15400ST with ruthenium toned dial.
Insider: Roger Dubuis Excalibur Huracán. Almost Like Wearing a Lamborghini on the Wrist.
Taking inspiration from the Lamborghini Squadra Corse and its unique automobile aesthetic showcased in the Huracan Performante the watchmakers at Roger Dubuis have developed a few incredible timepieces brimming with racing design codes. Along with the new Roger Dubuis Excalibur Huracán Performante and its new movement —the RD630 with its 12-degree inclined balance wheel representing the calibre signature associated with Lamborghini—, comes the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Huracán with its 45 mm titanium case and the automatic winding mechanism displaying a rim‑like oscillating weight. The upper calibre features a strut‑bar designed bridge recalling the ones of the V10 engine of the Lamborghini Huracan super car.
